Full text of "The heart of man : either a temple of God, or a habitation of Satan : represented in ten emblematical figures, calculated to awaken and promote a Christian disposition"

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IN TEN EMBLEMATICAL FIGURES.

Calculated to awaken and promote a Christian Disposition.

HARRISBURG,

Printed and Published by Lutz & Scheffer.
1 S 5 1,

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY,

764075 A 1

ASTOR, LENOX AND j

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS?

R 1935 L j

WHOSOEVER committeth sin, transgresseth the law 5
for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know
that He was manifested to take away our sins 5 and in
Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him, sinneth not;
whosoever sinneth, hath not seen Him, neither has he known
Him.

Children! let no man deceive you: he that doeth right-
eousness, is righteous, even as he is righteous. — He that
committeth sin, is of the devil ; for the devil sinneth from
the beginning. For this purpose was the Son of God mani-
fested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Who-
soever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed re-
maineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of
God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the
children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness,

is not of God.

1 John 6, V. 4—10

TO THE READER

THIS little work was translated from the French,
and at the earnest request of some pious persons,
was published in the year 1732 at Wurtzburg, by
the engraver of the University, with the following
title : '' Spiritual Mirror of Morality, in which
every Christian, who desires his salvation, may
view himself, know the state of his soul, and pro-
fitably learn to regulate his life according to it.''
The editor dedicated it to the Right Rev. Bishop
of Wurtzburg and Bamberg, Frederic Charles,
^^with the assured hope, ( as he expresses in the
dedication,) that his highness would please to look
upon the work, with his princely and most gra-
cious favor.''

Since the year 1732 till 1842, the taste of man
has undergone a change — but not the Truth — this
remains eternally unchangeable — and I live in the
sure hope, that the spirit of the times will not con-
sider such a work with pleasure, and surely not

with mildness, but with extreme displeasure and
unkind ness. For this work represents the author
of sin and spiritual slavery — the Devil — as also the
author of life and the liberty of the children of God
— Christ in us — in a very plain manner; and the
spirit of the times laughs at Satan, as if he were
not ; the spirit of the times believes not in Christ,
nor on the redemption through Him, as taught us
in the holy scriptures. But since we know that on
this very account, this spirit of the times is not of
God, but of the Devil, we therefore do not trouble
ourselves so anxiously, whether this treatise be ac-
ceptable for him or not. We abide with Christ
and the doctrines of the Apostles, and find them
still so excellent, so sanctifying and so beautify-
ing, that we would part with them for no opinion
of the times whatever.

Christ and his Apostles expressly taught — As
God has his kingdom in the faithful and pious, by
living I'A them as in his temple, by reigning with-
in them, reviving, purifying, sanctifying, making
them happy and filling them with divine power,
with heavenly peace, and eternal life; thus also
Satan holds dominion in the wicked, the unbeliev-
ing and ungodly : He, the evil Spirit, worketh
evil within them, dwelleth in them, and maketh
them wretched and unhappy.

Christ taught : **The enemy that sowed tares

among the wheat, while men slept, is the devil/'
(Matth. 13, V. 25, 39.) The tares are here, we
cannot overlook them ; who will deny the sower,
that soweth the tares? Thus would we only make
it more easy for this artful enemy, to scatter his
tares.

Christ taught, and said to the wicked and un-
believing: Ye are of your Father, the Devil, and
the lust of your father you will do — he was a mur-
derer from the beginning — he is a liar, and abode
not in the truth ; because there is no truth in him ;
when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own,
for he is a liar, and the father of it. — John 8, 44.

Paul taught: Satan is a Prince, a powerful, a
mighty Spirit, that ruleth in the darkness of tliis
world: there are spirits in the air; we wrestle
against them. Eph. 6, 12.

Paul taught : Satan is the God of this world — •
of the wicked and unbelievers — who darkens their
understanding, so that they cannot see the light of
the glorious gospel of Christ. (2 Cor. 4, 4.) It is
therefore a work of the devil, a blindness of the
devil, not to believe in the gospel of Christ.

St. Paul taught : Satan worketh and has his
power in the children of disobedience. The wicked
are dead in sin, who walk according to the course
of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air. Eph. 2, 2.

Peter tauglit : Satan is the adversary of good men
and believers; their enemy, their tempter, that never
resteth, that ever goeth about, like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour. — We are therefore
to watch, to be so])er, and resist him steadfast in
faith. 1 Pet. 5, 8. 9.

John taught: Satan is the deceiver of the whole
world. Rev. 12, 9. He is the author of sin, has
made the beginning of sin, has brought sin into the
Avorld, and death with sin. 1 John 3, 8.

John taught : He that sinneth is the child of the
devil — but Christ is come to destroy the works of
the devil. John 3, 8.

James saith : Resist the devil and he will fly far
from you. James 4, 7.

Jesus gave power unto his disciples to drive out
devils, and power over all the power of the enemy.
Matth. 10, 8.— Luke 10, 19.

Paul sheweth (Eph. 5, 13.) the armor of God,
with which we are to strive against Satan, and
maintain the field and quench the fiery darts, which
he may hurl against us.

He therefore that believeth in the doctrine of
Jesus and his Apostles, he doubteth not that the
heart of man may be either a temple of God and
the Holy Ghost, or a habitation of Satan, or that
in like manner as God, Christ and the Holy Spirit

7
dwell in believers, operate and live in them, so also
does Satan dwell and hold dominion in the wicked.

All of these biblical and christian truths, at all
times believed by the holy church, are represented
in this little book by various emblems and figures,
explained and applied, in order to deter the un-
godly from sin and the slavery of Satan, and con-
firm the pious in faith and godliness.

In every plate appears a heart with a human
face. From the state of the heart, which is the
seat and the habitation of good and evil, the whole
man must be judged ; the face is as it were the
sign, which the inner man hangs forth, by which
you may know of what spirit he is. — Look then,
my dear reader, at every picture in thine own
heart, examine thy inmost soul, to ascertain in
what condition thou art, whether Christ or Satan
reigns within thee, whether thou be a slave to sin
and Satan, or a free and happy child of God. —
Let it be a serious examination of thyself, pass
not lightly over it ; be honest to confess to thy own
heart, and to God, and with sincerity to acknowl-
edge what, and how thou art found within thee. —
Thou standeth in the presence of God, who search-
eth the heart and reigns, who seeth and knoweth
all things, and from whom nothing within thee is
concealed. Doest thou bring to light some evil
within thee ? repent of it and despair not, acknowl-

8
edge it with an upright heart and turn unto Christ.
He is thy Saviour also, likewise for thee has he
come into the world, for iiiy salvation is he also
present to destroy the works of the devil, to de-
liver, to snatch thee from the power of Satan, and
transplant thee into his kingdom, (Col. 1, 13.) —
To thee also can he impart the power and strength
that thou mayest no longer he a suhject of Satan,
nor he a slave of sin. He can make thee free, and
if he made thee free, thou art free indeed. — [John
8, 36.]

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^3 Representation of the imier state of a man, who is a serv- C<^
1^3 ant of Sin, and svfjfers the devil to reign within him. cj

The Peacock rppresents Pride.
The Gnat, Unchastity.
The Hog represents Voracity and
Gluttony.

The Toad, Avarice.
The Snake, Envy.
The Tiger. Anger.
The Tortoise, Indolence.

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THE

HEART OF MAW.

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

Figure !•

A Representation of the Inner State of Man, who it a
servant of sin, and suffers the devil to reign within him.

THUS is it with the worldling's heart, who devotes him-
self to sin, and lives according to the predominant mind of
the present world, according to the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience. (Eph. 2, 2.) The counte-
nance expresses that lenity which regards no sin, considers
nothing as sin, indulges in every thing that the perverse
heart desires, and lives sprightly in the world, without re-
flecting on God, eternity and judgment.

In the heart dwelleth the devil with all his adherents — the
seven deadly sins, represented by the seven beasts.

The Peacock, which with its extended glittering feathers,
exceeds all other animals in pride, represents haughtiness,
which misleads so many on account of some advantages,
gifts, graces, on account of their riches, or beauty, or posts
of honor, which they have without merit received from God,
to be pleased with themselves, to be elated in their thoughts,
as if on account of these things they were better, and hence
to despise others, to condemn and oppress them.

The Goatt a lascivioug, stinking animal, is the image of
unchastity and all impurity.

The Hog^ the image of intemperance, of gluttony, of
drunkenness, and all manner of excess in eating and drink-
ing.

The Toad, which subsists on earth, represents avarice,
which excites mankind to strive after earthly goods with in-
satiable desire.

The Snake, which deceived our first parents and seduced
them, because it envied them their happiness, is the true
image of envy and exaltation at another's misfortune.

The Tiger, one of the most cruel and ferocious animals,
represents anger and revenge, which mislead man to actions
like those of such cruel beasts.

The slow-paced Tortoise, is an emblem of indolence 2iiidi
lukewarmness, which deprives man of all disposition and will
to do good.

The Holy Ghost is expelled from the heart and retires ;
yet notwithstanding He does not cease to offer the sinner
his gift and graces, which are represented by the flames of
fire which surround the heart : nevertheless He finds no en-
trance into the heart, which is replete with the abominations
of sin, and entirely subject to the power of Satan.

The Good Angel or the Grace of Christy is also endeavor-
ing to awake the sinner, by the word of God and other
means ; but he neither heareth nor taketh it to heart, being
totally stupified and absorbed by the lusts and pleasures of
sin.

This is the terrible and woful condition of a sinner, who
lives according to the prevailant mind of the world. Oh!
how many are there who live so securely in this lamentable
state, as if there were no danger to be apprehended for

them! They are called christians, and are yet servants of
sin, slaves of the devil ; they have the name that they live
and yet are dead— Rev. 3, 1.

PRAYER,

MOST merciful God and Saviour! Look down
with the eyes of thy unfathomable compassion,
upon the wretched condition of my poor sinful
heart! Enlighten the eyes of my mind, by the rays
of thy heavenly light— give me light in my dark-
ness, that I may learn to know my inner state, the
condition of my heart, and grant me grace, that I
may wholly free myself from all those things which
cleave to me in this wretched state. Rescue me,
Oh ! Almighty Redeemer, that I may never again
willfully consenting to sin, treacherously deliver
up my heart to the infernal enemy and make room
for his habitation. Overawe me with the thought :
He that sinneth is a servant of sin, is a child oFthe
devil, and that to as many vices as I devote my-
self, so many impure spirits fill and defile my
heart. Thou Lord and Creator of all things ! hast
created my heart for thee and destined it to be a
habitation of thine: how then should I deliver it
up to be a retreat of Satan. Deliver thou me, oh
Almighty God, from the power of Satan, cleanse

me from all impurity of sin, take away my sinful
impure heart, and create within me a new, a clean
heart ; prepare to thyself within me a grateful res-
idence, to the glory (^thy most holy name, Jesus!
Amen.

Sinners in judgment shall not stand

Among the sons of grace.
When Christ, the Judge at his right hand,
Appoints liis saints a place.

His eye beholds the path they tread.

His heart approves it well :
But crooked ways of sinners lead

Down to the gates of hell.

>9©©4«—

Figure S.

Representation of the Inner State of a Sinner, who repents
and begins to fly from sin.

THE prevenient grace of God and Christ, under the em-
blem of an Angel, represents to the sinner the consequences
and the reward of sin, viz : the Sword or Judgment and
Death. Grace conceives him from the word of God, that
neither *' fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor ef-
feminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revellers, nor ex-
tortioners, nor any unclean thing, shall inherit the kingdom
fifGod." 1 Cor. 6,9 10. *' That tribulation and anguish,

Representation of the inner state of a Sinner, who
repents and begins to fly from sin.

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indignation and wrath, must come upon all the workers of
iniquity." Rom. 2, 9.

The sinner is alarmed in his conscience, he turns his eye
within liis heart, and there finds sin and abomination alto-
gether ; by a higher light he sees that odious and destructive
tendency of sin ; he repents, he hates, he detests sin ; he de-
sires to be freed therefrom, but still feels the power of sin,
and siglis from the inmost depths of his soul : "0 wretched
sinner that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this
death?" — "The grace of God through Jesus Christ, (Rom.
7, 25.) answereth, the Holy Spirit, that has again approached
the penitent, contrite heart, and with the flames of divine
grace, has penetrated and imparted to him light and strength.

And thus as the light of the Holy Spirit penetrates into
the heart and the sparks of grace expand within it, thus also
must Satan retire with all his odious adherents — The de-
testable forms, the abominable beasts, the emblems of vice,
flee. When the light enters, darkness must vanish. As
soon as the day breaks, the night is gone. Grace is light —
sin is darkness and night. As soon as we begin to hate sin,
Satan must give way, he reigneth only in sin, in darkness —
and can enter the heart only through sin ; the love of sin
gives him the key to the heart, the attachment to evil opens
door and gate, and gives free access to the heart. A love to
God and goodness, hatred of sin, closes the entrance and
repels him from the heart.

O! dear souls, love the light and hate the evil! resist the
devil and he will flee far from you. Shut your eye upon the
world, upon sin and all temptations to sin : open your eye
to the light of the Holy Spirit! let every ray of this higher
light be welcome to you, it dispels the influence of sin and
darkness, Satan and hell, from your heart. Look frequently

into your own heart, in order to discover and abominate
every detestable form of sin that may lurk there. In the
light of God, which ever wenteth before your heart, in order
to be admitted, and as soon as you open, will enter and en-
lighten and animate all within you ; in this light of God,
you shall be able to see every wicked beast, every dust and
shade of sin, in all its hatefulness, and the grace of God
which is mighty in the weak, will deliver you from all.

PRAYER.

GOD ! thou source of all light and all life !
Thon only, the light of thy Spirit alone, can shew
me sin in all its detestable and destructive forms.
Let the light of life shine within my darkened soul,
that I may see and live! Thou desirest not the
death of the sinner, wilt not my death, but as thou
livest, so surely wilt Thou, that the sinner may
turn and live. Shew me the sin that blinds, be-
sets and subjects me to the power of Satan. Grant
me Thy grace, which Thou hast so solemnly as-
sured to all sinners in Christ Jesus ! May it pene-
trate my Iieart, may it pierce me Avith salutary
wounds and with repentance, so that sin, death and
Satan may depart from me and give way to Tliee.
Grant me Thy Holy Spirit, that He may awaken
within me the love of God, a pleasure and joy on
thy commandments, that may no more permit sin
to reign within my members, and Satan may no

119

longer blind, seduce and overpower me : may I
fully and with clear and lively conviction learn,
that in sin there is no salvation, but he that sinneth
is the servant of *sin, a child of hell and darkness.
Let me never forget what thy word sayetli : That
no ungodly sinner shall stand before Thee, no un-
righteous one can enter into thy kingdom ; that an
eternal death, a rigid and unmerciful judgment
awaiteth all who do wickedly. Let me seriously
repent of every sin, and with my whole heart turn
away from every shadow and appearance of evil,
and turn unto Thee, so that 1 may be cleansed
from all evil, be delivered from all the power of
darkness, be susceptible of thy light and thy com-
munion, and thus be acceptable in thy sight.
Amen.

Thou, Lord, my glory and my strength,

Shalt on the tempter tread,
Shalt silence ail my threat'ning guilt,

And raise my drooping head. *

What though the hosts of death and hell,

All arm'd against me stood !
Terrors no more shall shake my soul ;

My refuge is my God.

Figure 3.

The inner condition of a Sinner, who believes in Christ and
the Gospel, and isßlled with the Holy Ghost.

THE sinner, by the view of his sins and the goodness and
long suft'ering of God, which has borne with him so long, and
lead him to repentance, having become softened — that is,
contrite, affected, and humbled in his heart, now weeps tears
of the most cordial repentance. It pains him to the quick
to have so often offended, deserted, disowned, and despised
his God, the fountain of goodness, so awfully ', and on the
contrary to have served the devil so long.

When thus prepared by the prevenient grace of God, then
is fulfilled what the scripture says: ''God is nigh unto
them that are of a broken heart and have a contrite spirit."
(Ps. 13, 19.) ''God healeth the broken heart." (Ps. 147, 3.)

The angel, or grace, approaches now before his heart,
presents to him Jesus Christ, the crucified, and his Gospel :
that is, the joyous, the saving declaration is announced to
him, that Christ has come into the world to save such sin-
ners as himself; that He has died for sinners, and obtained
for them forgiveness of sins, and an eternal life. To the
contrite and broken hearted, the humble and perplexed
souls, is offered of God, grace, pardon, salvation and life,
eternal salvation in Christ. If now the sinner accepts of
these proffers in faith and an humble confidence, if he re-
ceives the Lord Jesus crucified, his sufferings, his death,
his merits ; if he have a lively faith, that all this has been
done for him, is granted to him, is freely given him by grace,
then like all who believe in Christ, he receiveth the Holy

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Jo The inner condition of a Sinner, who believes in Christ ß

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Ghost, and the Holy Spirit beareth witness to his spirit, that
he is the child of God, and that all his sins are forgiven.
For the Holy Spirit filleth his heart with peace, with joy
and righteousness, and then of a truth the kingdom of God
has entered into him. Now indeed tears may flow ; but
they are only the tears of gratitude, joy, and submission to
Him who lias redeemed him from all sin, and filled him with
liis spirit. Body and soul now rejoice in the living God^'
The star shineth in the heart, since faith has been enkindled.
The enemies of his salvation, those detestable animals, Sa-
tan and his crew have now entirely disappeared, and now it
is said : Such ivere ye, but ye have been justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus^ and by the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 6, 1 l.j
Oh how glorious, how blessed, how exhilarating, is the* state
of such a reconciled sinner. He could join in one song of
praise after another. He cannot sufficiently rejoice in his
Redeemer and his grace ; he cannot sufficiently admire His
love and mercy, he cannot sufficiently adore Him, or thank
Him.

But let him with all his joy continue also in salutary fear,
and not grow secure : for those beasts — those sins — are in-
deed out of the heart — Satan has lost his power and domin-
ion over him — yet still he is not far removed, and he and
sin lie in wait dav and night, in order to return from whence
they have been driven out. He is so much the more embit-
tered by how much the more he has lost. — Therefore watch
and pray.

PRAYER.

Divine Redeemer ! How can I sufficiently re-
joice in thy grace and love ! How can I sufficiently
thank thee for thy glorious saving gospel ! Thou
hast suflered me to find salvation in thy bloody that
is forgiveness of all my sins. (Ephes. 1, 7.) Thou
hast given me the pledge, the Holy Ghost, and
sealed me in the day of redemption. (2 Cor. 1,22.)
Oh enliven my faith more and more: enlighten the
eyes of my understanding, that I may learn to know
the treasures, the blessings, wliich thou hast pur-
chased and offered me by thy blessed Gospel ! Oh
how hast thou blessed me, enriched me with thy
grace and felicity! I, who before was a dwellihg
of Satan, am now a temple of the Holy Ghost ! I,
who before was a slave of sin, am now a cliild of
God. I, before a habitation of impure spirits, now
the joy of angels ! I, in whom before sin raged and
Satan reigned, now feel only joy and peace ; and
righteousness in the Holy Ghost ; who now dwell-
eth within me and is given me of God : The ene-
mies of salvation are expelled, the chains that held
me in the slavery of sin and Satan, are broken,
and I am free ! — I hav?^ found mercy ! I have found
grace. How can I thank thee sufficiently. Thy
praise shall always be on my tongue.

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But one thing yet I pray thee, Dearest Redeem-
er ! Forsake me not and take not thy hand away
from me, God my salvation! (Ps. 26,9.) Preserve
my heart in this one thing, that I may fear thy
name. Guard me that I may never become secure
in the flesh, that I may never again be deceived by
the enemy and seduced by the treachery of sin :
May thy grace confirm my heart, that I may at ?A\
times hate sin and flee every temptation as hell it-
self. Thou hast delivered me, suffer me never to
become enslaved again. Thou hast sanctified my
heart to thyself, let it never be defiled again. Let
my heart remain a temple of the Holy Ghost, a
house of peace and joy, and righteousness in the
Holy Ghost. Amen.

Figure 4.

Representation of the inner condition of a Man, who has be-
come reconciled to God through the merit of Christ, and
mill knoia nothing more than the crucified Jesus.

IN the heart of a sinner that has found grace, there is now
nothing to be seen but the crucified Jesus and the Signs of
His sufferings. For the Holy Spirit who now animates and
governs him, and to whose guidance he has now submitted,
cannot excite the flame of love to him in any way more ef-

28
fectual, than when he represents to him Jesus continually,
on his cross and in his sufferings, and reminds him constantly
how much it cost Jesus his Saviour, to redeem him. The
consideration of the death of Jesus is therefore his principal
occupation. I know, says he with Paul, nothing but Christ
crucified. Far be it from me, that I should glory in any
thing, but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through whom
the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. (1 Cor. 2,
V. 2. Gal. 6, V. 14.)

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he finds in the
death and sufferings of his Redeemer, so much comfort and
strength, that his whole heart is filled therewith. — If God be
for me, who shall be against me ? He saith, hath God not
spared his only son, but given him for us all, why should he
not with him freely give us all things? (Rom. 8, 31, 32.) —
The death, the sufferings of Jesus is therefore the pledge of
the eternal love of God, which has reconciled him in Christ
with himself, and not imputed to him his sins. (2 Cor. 5, v.
19.) Christ crucified is now the ground of his confidence in
God, the eternal love : God the Father, who has given his
Son for us into such sufferings, what can he deny us ?

And since in this way Christ crucified has become his
own, dwelleth in his heart — has been given to him of God,
he finds therefore in himself the richest source, not only ot
all comfort, but likewise of all power to all good. The
thought, the living faith in Christ, lüs crucified love in it-
self, creates a disgust of all worldly joy, all fleshy luct, all
er.rthlj glcry,' all perishable treasures. It is as if Jesus the
crucified called him constantly : Wouldest thou follo*.y m3
— be my disciple, take up my cross and deny thyself and
follow me. (Matt. 16, 32.) For whosoever will not take up
his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me and cannot be
my disciple. (I.Iatt. 10, 38.) The chief propensity there-

fore within him will be, to be like his crucified Redeemer.
He practises godliness, therefore he strives after holiness,
without which no man can see God. (Heb. 12, 14.) — He
cleanses himself from all impurity of the flesh and spirit;
and advances in holitiess in the fear of God. ( 2 Cor. 7» 1.)
He prays without ceasing, and that with all prayer and ap-
plication of the spirit. ( Ephes« 5, 18.) To give and to. do
good, he committeth not, for he knows such sufferings are
acceptable to God. (Heb. 13,16.) He rejoiceth when he
is deemed wortliy for Christ's sake to bear shame, persecu-
tion, tribulation, humiliation, because he knows that if we
suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him. In
short, for his sake who has loved him, and given himself for
him, he is more than conqueror in all things, whilst at the
same time he looks forward to the reward of grace, wliich
is exceeding: great and «riven to all who are faitliful in the

9 9 O

contest. He that overcometh shall inherit all things. (Rev.
2, 16.) Thus it sounds in his ears; therefore he forgets
what is behind, whilst he striveth after the prize of his high
calling in Christ. Phil. 3, 13. 14.

PRAYER.

OH ! Thou love, my crucified love, Jesus
Clirist ! Thou hast reconciled me with God ! Thou
htast sanctified me unto God ! Thou alone shall
henceforth he seen in my heart; To thee, the re-
memhrance of thy sufferings and death be my heart
consecrated, my whole life devoted. May the
love with which thou hast loved me, he in, and

penetrate my whole soul. May this renew me af-
ter thy image, that I may be altogether like thee,
and the fruits of thy life and death be perfectly ex-
hibited in me. Oh grant me the disposition, that
I may consider all things that were given to me be-
fore, upon which I built and trusted, as dust and
dirt, compared with the incomparable knowledge
of thee. Be thou unto me all, and may all other
things be naught, that I may gain thee, and be
found in thee, that I may not rest upon my own
righteousness, that comes from the law, but may
have thy righteousness which is given by faith in
thee, and which alone is accepted of the Almighty
God, that I may know thee, the power of thy re-
surrection and the communion of thy sufferings, and
be like unto thy death. (Phil. 4, 3.) Until at
length I may say, I am crucified with Christ, T
live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ' Gal. 2, 20.
Yea ! my only beloved Saviour ! let me contin-
ually look up to thee, the author and finisher of
my faith, who when thou mightest have had peace,
did choose the cross and suffer shame. Be thy
sufferings the sweetest pasture to my soul ! Thy
cross strengthen me in the conflict with sin : Thy
death be my refuge in diflficulty and death! In
every temptation direct my view to thee! In doubt,
anxiety and hours of tribulation, may thy love be
my sun and shield, light and incentive, that I may

PUBLIC LIBRARY

*>3 Inward State of a Pious Person'' s hearty a Temple of C%
^0 the Living God, a habitation of the Most cj

^ Holy lYinity. ^<*

not be weary nor faint to run with patience ih
race that is appointed me. Amen. ^

My refuge is the God of love 5

Why do my foes insult and cry,
Fly, like a tim'rous trembling dove,

To distant woods on mountains fly?
The righteous Lord loves righteous souls,

Whose thoughts and actions are sincere.
And with a gracious eye beholds

The men who his own image bear

— »»»CQOi**^^

Figure 5.

The inward state of a pious soul — His heart a temple of the
living God, a habitation of the Most Holy Trinity,

IN the heart of a pardoned and sanctified sinner, now ap-
pears the Most Holy Trinity, Father^ Son and Holy Spirit.
As also Christ saith : He that loveth me, v.'ill keep my word,
and my father will love him, and we will come to him, and
dwell with him. (John 14, 23.) Such honor and glory is
given unto the christian, who is reconciled by the blood of
Christ, washed of all sin, and now through gratitude loves
Christ his Redeemer above all things, and because he loves
him, also keepeth his commandments. The eternal Deity
now enters into his heart He is loved of the Fatlier, for
Vm sake of the Son ; he is visited by the Father. The Father
and Son, and the Holv Spirit dwell and remain in him. —

Therefore, St Paul writes: ( 1 Cor. 3, 16.) Know ye not
that y,e^are the temple of God ; and that the spirit of God
(hvelleth in you : if any man destroy the temple of God, him
God will destroy, for the temple of God is holy, and which
temple are ye? And (2 Cor. 6, 17.) he writes, ye are the
temple of the living God, as God also saith : I will dwell
and be within them, and will be their God, and they öhall
be my people.

Together with the Holy Trinity, we also see the cross of
Christ in the heart. For this can the christian never forget,
never suffer to escape his mind. The sufferings and the
death of Jesus the crucified, his merits remain always the
foundation on which he builds, on which he supports his
faith, his hope, and remaineth the source ot his love. —
Whether he contemplates the Father or the Son, or the Holy
Spirit within himself, however intimately united he may be
with God, or however great the joy he may have, he still re-
flects, he looks back, and asks himself: how do I sinner
come to this unmerited grace ? Answer : through Christ,
who by his death hath reconciled me unto the Lord, He
hath averted from me sin, curse and death, and obtained
and given me grace, salvation and life. By his grace and
through his merits, I am, what I am.

Instead of those seven principal and deadly sins, which
occupied his heart without Christ, and committed it into a
habitation of Satan, we nov; see the opposite virtues, viz:
Humility, Love, Liberality, Beneficience, Chastity, Tem-
perance, Sobriety, Patience and Meekness, Zeal and Devo-
tion. Who tlien should not strive with all his power to
keep the words and commandments of Christ ? that is, to
believe in him, love him, follow him, become like him; see-
ing that such great things are promised j viz : that God l\im-
selfwill dwell in such a heart. Oh let us love him, cries

the apostle John, who lay on his bosom — for he liath loved
us first, and love is of God — God is love, and he that abideth
in love, abideth in God and God in him. (1 John 4, 18.) —
Even here may we come so near to (iod, even here he con-
descends so far in us. Let us excuse ourselves in the famil-
iar intercourse with this sublime guest, and strive continu-
ally to walk in his presence and devote ourselves entirely
to him, and continually dwell within ourselves since God
himself dwells and abideth in us ! All things without him
are nothing, are perishable — the whole world passeth away
with all its glory — but God, Christ in us, remaineth forever,
and if we adhere to him we are one spirit with him. (1 Cor.
6, 17.) He hath given us the most precious and valuable
promises, that we ourselves may become partakers of a di-
vine nature, if we flee the transitory world. ( 2 Pet. 1, 4.)
O let us believe in him, and adhere to him as if we saw him!
He that believeth in him, he hath eternal life, heaven itself
within him. (John 6, 47.)

PRAYER.

HOLY, infinitely amiable God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ! likewise our Father! How
greatly dost thou love the children of men ! How
greatly hast thou loved me wretched poor sinner,
blessed and made me to rejoice in thy Son Jesus
Christ! Thou wilt dwell in me ! thou abideth in
me and I in thee ! How nearly art thou related to
me, how nearly related am I to thee ! I am to be
filled with all the fulness of God. (Eph. 3, 19.)—

Should I not love thee, not love thee with my
whole heart and with all my powers ! Oh grant me
this love, let me become altogether love, as thou art
love! Let me feel thou art near, and let me become
more and more united with thee! Let nothing sep-
arate me from thy love! — Prepare thou my heart,
for thy eternal residence ! Draw my heart entirely
to thyself in the inward man, that I may only love
thee, only adhere to thee, and consider all things
beside thee as vain ! Behold thee in all things,
find thee in all things ; do and perform all things
for thee alone, that thou mayest be every thing to
me ! Thou God of my soul ! Thou my portion for
ever! Amen.

Christ's love is mj perpetual feast 5
By day his councils guide me right 5

And be his name forever blest,

Who gives me sweet advice by night.

I see him still before mine eyes,

At my right hand he stands prepar'd

To keep my soul from all surprise,
And be my everlasting guard.

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TlLDt.t^ r
R

mMj.m%m&WMmsm?<?JJ.mm&m^

*^5 State of a Person's Heart, whose zeal has grown cold, C^
^B and who has returned to the Love of the World. %^

Figure 6.

State of a Person's Hearty whose zeal has grown cold, and
u'ho has returned to the Love of the World.

IN this Figure you beliold a face, which with one eve
stares impudently around ; the other eye is drowsy. — In the
heart the signs of the sufferings of Jesus, have become fewer,
the sparks of grace are extinguishing — the star — the emblem
of faith — becomes dim, and has lost its liglit and splendor.
This indicates, that when man becomes careless and drowsy
in good acts, ceases to watch and pray, and on the contrary
looks upon the follies of the world, and indulges more and
more in the enjoyment of its rejoicings, its honors and pleas-
ures ^ if at the same time, what must naturally follow, he
proceeds, considering less and less the sufferings of his Re-
deemer, looks seldom to the crucified Jesus, the author and
finisher of his faith, and thus looses himself gradually out of
his view and out of his heart, then the glow of devotion must
be extinguished, love to Jesus is cold, grace departs, faith
wavers and dies, it becomes dim, dark, cold and dry in the
heart ; he becomes indolent and disspirited, and what hap-
pens then ?

The World, represented by the man with the dagger, now
penetrates with importunity into his heart 5 as he now has
no power of faith, no courage, no clear light, no more love,
he either fears the threats of the world, or he is deceived
with flatteries or allurements, and returns to the love of the
world.

In such condition cometh Satan, and carries and drags
with him the old beasts again into the heart, and this he ef-

fects 80 much the more easily, because he finds no guards,
no resistance more, because man has become lukewarm, in-
dolent in prayer, and no more avoids the opportunities to
sin, but exposes himself to danger.

The Angel, or the Grace of Christ, endeavors indeed to
drive the devil away, but as man himself by sin opens the
door and neither watches nor prays, does not faithfully co-
operate with faith, sin presses into the heart, and with sin
Satan and his followers return.

Here then applies what Christ has said — '*Watch and
pray, that ye may not fall into temptation ! pray without
ceasing :" — Prayer is the soul of christian life 5 when prayer
ceaselh, all good must also cease — prayer is spiritual breath-
ing. When it is expended or is weak, then all that is good
must die. Thus also if we are not vigilant, the enemy comes
and soweth weeds among the wheat.

An unguarded and defenceless heart is exposed to every
enemy — sin and Satan. Let therefore, sacred vigilance,
prayer and inward devotion, looking up to Jesus, the cruci-
fied, never depart from thy soul — never slumber, so that
nothing impure may penetrate the temple of God and destroy
it, otherwise God will destroy thee also. Be sober, be vig-
ilant, for your adversary the devil goeth about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him steadfast
in the faith. 1 Pet. 5, 8. He that standeth see to it that he
fall not.

We dare not lay aside the armour of defence, which Paul
(Eph. 6, 15. 10.) so beautifully describes— "for, (says he,)
we have not to coatend with flesh and blood, but with prin-
cipalities and powers, and with the rulers of the darkness
of this world, and with spiritual wickedness in high places,
that persecute us with firy.darts ; which we can extinguish
only with the shield of faith."

Faith therefore must always continue firm and lively ;
love must be fervent, and this can be only then when our
eye is directed away from the world and its allurements, and
we look up, invariably up, to Him ; when we bar our heart
against all the attractions of sin, and support the approach
and communion of God — if attentive to the gracious offer of
the Holy Spirit and yield ourselves to him. Faith must loose
all its power, its light and life, love must grow cold, if the
foundation on which it rests, Jesus crucified, depart from
our heart.

PRAYER.

LORD ! Thou searchest and knowest me, thou
searcher of hearts ! Thou knowest my weakness,
the instahility of my heart, which so easily grows
cold again in love and hecometh weak in faith ! —
Thou knowest how much inclined to the world I
am, how I avoid fear and all exertion and trouble,
all seriousness in self-denial and vigilance over my
own heart.

Strenghten me, enliven me, preserve me stead-
fast and firm, without thee I can do nothing. De-
sert me not, let not thy hand depart from me, God
my salvation. I cannot abide in thee, if thou dost
not preserve me and abide in me. Let not the
light be extinguished within me, nor my love grow
cold, nor my confidence waver, nor my faith die.

Grant me ever new strength and desire to pra^^

i;rant me joy ever to look up to tliee ! give my eye
vivacity, to adhere to thee with unvaried look, and
to free my soul in thy sufferings. Turn my eye
away that I may not look again upon vanity. —
Amen.

In anger, Lord, rebuke me not.

Withdraw the dreadful storm ;
Let not thy fury grow so hot,

Against a feeble worm.

Shall I be still tormented more,
Mine eyes consumed with grief;

How long my God, how long befo
Thy hands afford relief?

Figure 7.

The heart ofman^ who after his conversion^ hasfalleyi again

into former sins, and is now entirely in the

poiver of Satan.

THIS Picture represents the inward state of a sinner,
which our Lord describes, (Mat. 12, 43.) *' Wlien the un-
clean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh tiirough dry
places, seeking rest and findeth none. Then he saith, I
will return unto my house from whence I came out ; and
when he is come he findeth it empty, swept and garnished.
Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits

*^R The Heart of Man, who after his conversion has fallen^
^ again into former sins, and is now entirely p^

^ in the power of Satan. ^

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)\ AND
■ NATIONS
L

45
more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there:
and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

What an awful aspect ! Satan rules and inhabits, reigns
and holds control in the heart, which before was the dwell-
ing of God, the temple of the Holy Ghost. — The old sins and
abominations of sin are again to be seen ; the detestable
beasts have again fixed their abode and established them-
selves there as in their home. And whence are these ? —
Answer, man did not appreciate the grace that was given
him ; forgot the purification from former sins ; did not ex-
ercise himself in godliness and holiness. And he that does
not get better must get worse. There is no stationary por-
tion here. He who does not seriously strive to enter at the
straight gate — does not advance with perseverance and cour-
age in the narrow path, is not particularly careful to cherish
a hatred to sin, and strives to confirm himself in despising
the world and its pleasures, and does not avoid every op-
portunity to sin, such man will soon be again entangled in
the snares of Satan by his artifice and by the attraction of
sin and the lust of the world. — And what St. Peter says (2
Pet. 2, 22.) is verified : The dog returneth to his vomit
again, and the hog after washing wallows again in his mire,
— that is, the impure light minded man falls again into his
former sins, and devotes himself wholly to his lusts and pas-
sions again.

The Holy Spirit flieth ; for how can the holy spirit of God
dwell with the impure spirit ? How can the same heart be at
once a temple of God and a habitation of Satan ?

The Angel or grace, now recedes from the soul in sorrow,
yet, still with hands lifted up, to show that Christ still has
compassion on the sinner, and asit were with entreaty calleth
— <*0h if thou didst but know the things that belong unto
thy peace ! The arm, the paternal arm of God is yet extended

out for thee! Return thou backsliding sinner! I will yet
have mercy on thee." But he heareth no more. Impudently
he looks into the world ; he considereth, regardeth nothing
more, whether secret or open sins and shame. He seeth not
tlie abyss into which he is plunging, knows not the abomina-
tions which dwell in the heart ; because his faith is dead —
the star has lost all his splendorj and he is totally blinded by
Satan.

Behold ! fellow pilgrim ! thus it is with thee, if thou hast
confessed, lamented thy sins and obtained pardon, but thou
hast not been on thy guard with the grace of God to avoid
sit), but given tliyself up to her power again : It is then worse
and more pernicious than before, for ^in and the devil now
establish themselves more firmly and rage more violently in
thy heart; and now art thou their entire servant and slave.
Beware, therefore, of a relapse into former sins and prac-
tices. Hast thou once received grace, abandoned the devil,
pride and avarice, unchastity, envy and intemperance ; hast
thou declared war against anger and indolence, continue
then their eternal and sworn enemy, and never again let
them rise in thy heart, persecute them, avoid, fly from them
when and wherever thou canst 5 for they will always try to
return to thee, resume their old abode, assert their old right,
and as tliou givest way to them, so shall also the latter con-
dition with thee be worse than the former.

Trust in God, who is mighty to help thee, and grant thee
the victory over all thy enemies. Should thou fail, recol-
lect thyself again, rouse thyself to renew the combat. Never
make peace, never enter into a truce with sin. Always
seize again the hand of omnipotence, of thy redeemer ! He
can and will deliver thee. His arm is not too short to save.
He is the stronger. He can bind and cast out the strong and
the armed Satan, take away his spoil and free thee again. —

Why shouldst thou suffer thy heart to be a house of Satan,
or why suffer it to continue so longer, since thou canst be
and become a temple of God ?

PRAYER.

GOD ! still my God ! still my Father ! for thy
creature 1 am ; thou hast created me ; Christ I am
thy redeemed; thou art my Saviour — Made also
of God unto me, wisdom, righteousness, sanctifica-
tion and redemption ! Thou sittest at the right hand
of God also for me ! Hast also for me and my salv-
ation all power and might in tliy hand, to deliver
me from sin, death and the devil, although I am
(heir slave and prisoner! Thou hast received gifts
likewise for the apostate and rehel, (Ps. 69, 19.)
and therefore for me — though I have departed from
thee ! Thou acceptest all sinners ! Rejectest none,
that cometh to thee. Behold, here I am, and canst
save all ! Xone lie too deep in the gulph below,
thou canst and wilt rescue them ! Deliver me from
the bondage of sin and satan. — No longer shall
sin and the devil dwell in me; my heart belongeth
unto thee, for thou hast bought it with thy blood,
it is thine, and thou canst not yield it to any other!
Send therefore thy light, that the darkness may
vanish ; give thy spirit that satan may flee. Grant

48
me thy grace, that sin may loose its sting ; trample
satan under my feet, and destroy his power. En-
able me to be free. Amen.

See how the Prince of darkness tries

All his malicious arts —
He spreads a mist around my eyes,

And throws his fiery darts.

Be thou my sun and thou my shield, ^

My soul in safety keep —
Make haste before my eyes are seaPd

In death's eternal sleep.

Figure 8.

Death of the Ungodly, and the Reward of Sin,

THUS the impenitent sinner lieth on his death-bed, full
of pains in his body, and in spirit full of dismay and anxiety,
full of fear and terror at death, full of trembling at the ap-
proaching judgment.

He is totally deserted, without help, capable of receiving
no comfort, because he believeth not and acknowledgeth not
God and the Redeemer. Death stands before him and
threatens to deprive him of all, all joy, all possessions, hon-
ors, pleasures, all and every thing else.

Satan now reproaches him with his sins. Before it was
be that seduced him, and represented sin in an attractive

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The Death of the itmrodly, and the Reward

of Sin.

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and tempting form, now he torments him therewith, dis-
tresses his conscience, and shews him the reward of sin, that
now awaits him, with eternal perdition, eternal damnation,
and endless misery in hell.

In despair he looks around and sees every where nothing
but images of terror 5 within his own conscience torments
him, which had slumbered until then, but now has av/oke
with all its power and plunges him into the anguish of hell.

He beholds hell itself, the gulph open, ready to devour
him, to swallow him up forever. He cannot listen to any
thing good any more, because he has long ago hardened his
heart against all impressions of the good spirit, and now be-
come deaf to his voice. He turns away from the good spirit,
from grace, from the Angel — and therefore does he also de-
part from him, and delivers him over to that despair into
whose bosom he has voluntarily and presumptuously cast
himself. Thus he gives up the ghost, and appears before
the judgment of Christ, and hears from the mouth of him,
whom he during life despised, whose word he never heard
or which he has forsaken, whose grace he has condemned,
whose blood he has trodden under foot, heareth now out of
the mouth of his Judge, the irrevocable doom — ^*Depart
from me, thou accursed^ into everlasting fire.'^'*

Such is the reward of sin and the pleasures of the world.
Rejected, condemned by the Lord, shut out from heaven,
and eternally banished from his face, he plunges now into
the abyss, into an eternal wretched condition, into a fire that
is never quenched, and gnawed by the worm that never dies.

Oh — how many of mankind are hastening on to this eternal
perdition! how many who are called Christians, and would
be considered such, are the servants of sin, of lusts and
shameful desires, devote themselves to avarice or luxury, to
pride or envy, and who live rejoicing in another's woe, or

ar« addicted to unchastitj and indolence, or anger, or in-
temperance and intoxication ; — perhaps they also still con-
fess their sins, but not to become better, but mere from
habit. They return again to sin and continue in their un-
godly practices, confess again, sin again, and thus proceed
until their end, never thinking to change their minds, v/ith
l\\ their heart to lament their sins, without sincerely turn-
ing to Christ the Redeemer, without seeking his grace and
mercy. With all their confessions, their communion, going
to church, hearing the preaching and other devotions, they
still continue the persons they were before, servants of sin,
children of the world, slaves of the devil, and the more they
join in with outward forms, the more do they pride them-
selves on it, as if they were under no necessity to change
their hearts, and be converted. Unexpectedly death ap-
proaches, and bears them away, and since they have sowed
to the flesh, they reap from the flesh destruction ; for what
a man soweth, he shall also reap.

Particularly awful is the death of those who having once
found grace, have not preserved it, who have once acknowl-
edged Christ, but not remained with him, but have fallen
from him again and cast themselves into the arms of the
world and of sin : For, as St. Paul saith, (Hebr. 1.) **If we
willfully commit sin after we have come to the knowledge
of the truth, we have no other offering for sin, but a terrible
waiting for the judgment and the wrath of fire to consume
the ungodly: — for it is extremely difficult for those who
were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift
and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted
the good word of God and the powers of the world to come,
if they shall fall away to renew them again to repentance,
seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and
put him to an open shame." Heb. 6, 4.

Oh you sinners that devote yourselves to your passions, if
ye did but know what ye love I Ye love death and destruc-
tion ! What now flatters you, will one day torment you. —
Consider the evil of your ways, and hate wickedness — re-
nounce all lust and sin, it is your destruction. Hear the
friendly voice of your good shepherd, Jesus Christ, who call-
eth to you, come to me, my blood cleanseth from all sin !
I forgive you, I make you happy — I give my sheep eternal
life. Harden not your hearts against this voice of your good
Shepherd, that you may not one day hear the thundering
voice of your Judge : Depart from me ye accursed into ever-
lasting fire. — It is terrible to fall into the hands of the liv-
ing God. Heb. 10, 31.

PRAYER.

GOD! Thou art just, and all thy judgments are
righteous ! With thee there is no respect of pers-
ons, thou wilt reward every one according to his
works. He that repenteth not and believeth not
in thy word, and preserveth it not, he is already
judged, he cannot see life, he abideth in death for-
ever. As friendly and kind as thou art to the
pious and the believer, so awful art thou to the im-
penitent sinner, who turneth not unto thee. Oh
Lord and Saviour. Thou hast delivered me from
sin, from death and hell ; strenghten me, that I
may also betimes, withdraw my heart from all sin

and turn unto thee ! Awaken me, that I may be

reserved from death and may have life ! Subdue
and soften my heart that I may repent, follow the
impulse of thy spirit, and through thee become
converted and changed into a new man, and live
and die unto thee. Amen.

Christ's foes shall fall with heedless feet,

Into the pit thej made ;
And sinners perish in the net

Which their own hands had spread.

The wicked shall sink down to hell,

Thy wrath devour the lands
That dare forget thee, or rebel

Against thy own commands

-e©e-

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R I-

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Rvpresentalion of a pn-sofi'.s inrrard State, who being

reconciled with God, ii'ill know nothing more

than the crucified Jesus.

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Figure 9.

The inward state of a Christian^ who perseveres until th*

end iti the conflict with sin, and with the

practice of godliness,

THOU seest in this Picture, how the heart of the Christ-
ian is surrounded on all sides with enemies. Satan and sin
are continually lying in wait for us, and strive to regain
their old dominion in the heart. Below there are two men,
who represent the world, one of whom strives to allure us
to the sensual enjoyments and worldly pleasures, by offer-
ing a goblet; the other with his dagger, strives to deter us
from goodness, with threats, persecutions, slanders, and
other violent means, and compel us to sinful life.

With these enemies of salvation, with the flesh, the
world and satan, the christian in this present life must al-
ways contend, but if his heart is always armed against them,
they cannot overcome him.

Above is the Angel — the Grace of God — which con-
stantly encourages him to the contest, and exhorts him to
perseverance, whilst he calls : "No man will be crowned
except he contend right, and he that is faithful until the
end, shall be saved."

In the heart itself shines the Star bright and clear; that
is, faith is lively, and his faith is the victory ^'which over-
cometh the world. (1 John 5, 4.) He is full of confidence,
of hope in God, and therefore he has written in his heart :
who is like unto God ? God is within me, and in him and
through him I can do all things. Grace is sufficient for me:
on the other side it is written. Who will separate us from

the love of Jesus Christ? Tribulation? or angui&h? or per-
secution? or hunger ? or nakedness ? or danger? or »word?
— in this we are more than conquerors in him who has loTed
us. Rom. 8, 55. 39. Faith and love are therefore the
highest objects in his heart, and confirm him in all good
qualities.

In the middle of the heart there is a sacramental host,
with the inscription: Jesus mj love! this shews his great
hunger after the true spiritual food, after the bread of life,
which cumeth down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.
John 3, S3. With this living and enlivening bread, he
nourishes and strengthens his faith and his love by the fre-
quent use of the Holy Sacrament. In this food he finds the
greatest strength, that eternal life as Jesus has promised :
He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, he abideth
in me and I in him. John 6, 54. 56.

Moreover in the heart thou beholdest Christ crucified and
an open book — the Gospel — the Holy Scriptures. For the
reading and meditation of the holy scriptures, and particu-
larly the sufferings and death of Jesus, ever continue to be
his most delightful occupation, the sweetest pasture in which
his soul refreshes itself, to be strengthened against sin and
the world, the flesh and Satan, in all temptations. He that
hath not Jesus crucified, in his heart, and keeps him not
there, is dead in sin. — And he that doth not love the holy
scriptures, the gospel, above all other works, does not read
and meditate on them, and prefer them to all other knowl-
edge, and does not make it the rule and standard of hii life,
he is at least dangerously sick in his soul, if not entirely
dead and rejected.

Finally, we find in the heart a little church, an open bag
of money, bread and fish. The church signifies that he is
much engaged in prayer, as well publicly in the assemblies

59
of believers, as in secret in the silent retired chamber, and
wherever he goes or remains, his heart maintains an inter-
course with God, and lives and moves in conversation with
him, rejoices in his presence, gives himself up to him, and
abideth in him. — Without prayer no one can persevere in
piety, in faith and love.

The open purse represents his charity and his brotherly
love. He opposes avarice, since he willingly gives of his
own to the needy brethren, as much as he can, in order to
practice charity and wean his heart more and more from
earthly objects. He knows that those souls who have es-
caped Satan by this means, that they have renounced all
gross vices, as voluptuousness, intemperance and other vices,
again may insensibly fall into the snares of Satan, when they
devote themselves secretly to avarice, to covetousness, and
under various pretexts and excuses refuse to do good to
others.

Bread and Fish signify his moderation, temperance and
sobriety. Seeing that in all things he seeketh the proper
measure, that he may not by irregular use of meat or drink,
cherish the lust of the flesh, extinguish the spirit and render
himself incapable of the practice of godliness.

With these weapons the christian perseveres manfully in
the contest; this armour he never lays aside, and thus he
keeps the field, and gains the victory over all his enemies —
the world, the devil, and the flesh.

PRAYER.

O JESUS ! my love, if I have but thee, why
should T care for heaven or earth! — Abide thou in
me and let me be in thee, then I shall always be a
fruitful grape. But without thee I can do nothing:
animate my faith more and more, that I may em-
brace thee, Omnipotence, and through thee, to
whom all things are possible, gain the victory. —
May thy love increase within me, and kindle a
flame within my whole heart, that I may love thee,
the highest beauty and eternal glory, and without
thee find nothing attractive, or inviting, nothing
worthy of my love.

Grant me the grace of perseverance, it proceed -
eth alone from thee. Let nothing separate me from
thy love. Thy cross, thy death, and the supper,
the memorial of thv death, be tlie nourishment of
my love and fidelity to thee. — May it unite me in-
separably with thee. Grant me through this, what
thou hast promised, eternal life even here and dwell
by faith in my heart. (Eph. S.) Thy word which
is full of life, awaken, enlighten, comfort, animate,
and strengthen me daily to strive in all patience
and fidelity. May my whole heart, all my inclina-
tions, all my thoughts and desires be devoted to
thee. Let me not only subdue some but all bad

61
desires and passions, covetousness, as well as lust,
envy and exultation at other's ill, pride and anger
and revenge, as well as indolence and intemper-
ance.

Let me pray without ceasing, in order to obtain
new power for the victory, and to remain faithful
until the end. Amen.

I set the Lord before my face,

He bears my courage up ;
My heart and tongue their joys express,

My flesh shall rest in hope.

My spirit, Lord, thou wilt not leave.

Where souls departed are,
Nor quit ray body to the grave :

To see corruption there.

Figure lO*

The Death (J a Pious and Righteous Man.

A MAN tliat luis remained firm in faith and the exercise

of piety until the Qm\^ lies down at last, when his end draws

niji;h, cheerful and comforted on his deathbed. He fears

neither death nor jiidy;nient ; for neilher of them affect him,

as Jesus has said : He that kcepeth my word and believeth

on him that sent me, he hath eternal life, and cometh not

into judgment, he has passed from death to life. John 5, 24.

Thus then the rigliteous man lieth there, tranquil in his

conscience, because iiis sins are forgiven him, and he enjoys

the grace of God in his heart. The sis-n of the cross he

presses on his bosom, to denote his love and veneration for

the blessed Jesus crucified, whom he has carried within his

heart during his life, in whom alone he has trusted, and who

now in death is his only confidence, his only refuge. He

has lived unto him, he now dies unto him. From his friendly

serene countenance, beams forth that inward peace, that

divine comfort, the unction of the Holy Ghost, that dwelleth

in his heart. Eye and heart are directed to heaven, and his

whole countenance expresses what his soul thinks. He

would be dissolved and be with Christ. The Angel of God

waiteth for his soul, until perfected and to carry him to the

bosom of his God. And he is at last dissolved, liberated

from the bonds of mortality, his soul then hastens to meet

him, in whom he here believed, in whom he hoped, whom he

here loved without seeing him. Now he is to appear before

his face. Christ hastens and stretches his arms, saying :

*'Come thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faith-

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

A2TOR. LCNOK ANJQ
TFLDEN FOUNDATIONS

65
ful over few things, I will make thee ruler over many, enter
thou into the joys of the Lord."
Satan departs with shame.

What joy! what rapture will that be to behold Christ face
to face as he is, to be like him in glory and happiness ? Who
can describe it ?

Thus does the righteous man, who has believed in Christ,
and continued faithful in the contest with sin, the world and
satan. So delightful is the issue of the combat and the suf-
fering of the pious! Oh that this may encourage every one,
to persevere in his faith, not to grow weary, to contend
earnestly to enter in at the straight gate, and to end his
course with joy ; beyond this there awaiteth him a glorious
crown, an unfading, incorruptible and glorious inheritance.

PRAYER.

OH Lord Jesus Christ! how happy shall I
once be in heart, on my bed of death, if I have thee
in my heart, if thou art with me and comfort me.
Who then will distress me ? my sins, thou hast
forgiven me these, thou hast justified, cleansed, puri-
fied and sanctified me with thy holy precious blood.

Should Satan attempt to torment and distress
me ? Nay thou hast overcome him and destroyed
his power ; he can do nothing against me, for thou
art for me — yea, thou hast died for me and art
risen again and sitteth for me at the right hand of
God, prayest for me, intercedest for me. Rom. 8.
Nothing therefore shall separate me in death from

66
thy love. Now dear Lord ! let me live, let me die
only unto thee ! Let me now adhere to thee with
all fidelity, and never part from thee more! Grant
me grace, that I may daily die, die to all things
that are not thine ! May I tear my heart loose from
all things that do not go with me into death. Awa-
ken within me the ardent desire after thy heavenly
kingdom, that my conversation may even now be
in heaven, where I am already enrolled as a citi-
zen and one of the household of God. This joy-
ous hope, to be with thee, fills me with a constant
zeal in doing good, and not to faint, that I may
hereafter reap the fruits thereof without ceasing.
And witii this state of soul, dearest Saviour, may
my confidence in thee, the faith in thy holy merits
of thy mercy and love, never escape me, but may I
firmly hope and trust in thy sufferings and death,
in thy precious and infinite merits, who died for
me, and livest for me, for ever and ever. Amen.

I'll sing the majesty and grace 5

My God prepare his throne,
To judge the world in righteousness,

And make his vengeance known.
*
Then shall the Lord a refuge prove.

For all the poor oppress'd 5
To save the people. of his love,

And give the weary rest.

•appendix*

Vanity of Life,

THE evils that beset our path

Who can prevent our cure ?
We stand upon the brink of death,

When most we seem secure.

2 If we to day, sweet peace possess,

It soon may be withdrawn 5
Some change may plunge us in distress,
Before to-morrow's dawn.

3 Disease and pain invade our health,

And find an easy prey ;
And oft, when least expected, wealth
Takes wings and flies away.

4 A fever or a blow can shake

Our wisdom's boasted rule;
And of the brightest genius make,
A madman or a fool.

5 The gourds, from which we look for fruit.

Produce us only pain 5
A worm unseen attacks the root.
And all our hopes are vain.

6 I pity those who seek no more

Than such a world can give j

68
Wretched they are, and blind and poor,
And dying while they live.

7 Since sin has fillM the earth with woe,
And creatures fade and die 5
Lord wean our hearts from things below,
And fix our hopes on high.

Vanity of the World.

GOD gives his mercies to be spent ;
Your hoard will do your soul no good ;
Gold is a blessing only lent,
Repaid by giving others food.

2 The world's esteem is but a bribe,
To buy their peace you sell your own ;
The slave of a vain-glorious tribe.
Who hate you while they make you known.

5 The joy that vain amusements give,
Oh! sad conclusion that it brings'
The honey of a crouded hive,
Defended by a thousand stings.

4 *Tis thus the world rewards tne fools
That live upon her treach'rous smiles;
She leads them, blind fool, by her rules,
And ruins all whom she beguiles.

5 God knows the thousands who go down
From pleasure, into endless woe;

And with a long despairing groan,
Blaspheme their Maker as they go.

6 O fearful thought ! be timely wise ;
Delight but in a Saviour's charms 5
And God shall take you to the skies^
Embrac'd in everlasting arms.

Vanity of the creature sacrified*

HONEY though the bee prepares,
An envenom'd sting he wears :
Piercing thorns a guard compose
Round the fragrant blooming rose.

2 Where we think to find a sweet,
Oft a painful sting we meet.
When the rose invites our eye.
We forget the thorn is nigh.

3 Why are thus our hopes beguil'd 5
Why are all our pleasures spoil'd ?
Why do agony and woe

From our choicest comforts grow ?

4 Sin has been the cause of all ?
'Twas not thus before the fall :
What but pain, and thorn, and sting
From the root of sin can spring ?

5 Now with evVy good we find
Vanity and grief entwin'd ;
What we feel, or what we fear,
All our joys embitter here.

6 Yet through tlie Redeemer's love,
These afflictions blessings prove ;
He the wounding stings and thorns
Into healing med'cines turns.

7 From the earth our hearts thej wean^
Teach us on his arm to lean ;

Urge us to a throne of grace,
Make us seek a resting place.

8 In the mansions of our King
Sweets abound without a sting ;
Thornless there the roses blow,
And the jojs unmingled flow.

The name of Jesus.

1 HOW sweet the name of Jesus sounds,

In a believer's ear !
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds
And drives away his fear.

2 It makes the wounded spirit whole

And calms the troubled breast ;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.

3 Dear name ! the rock on which I build.

My shield and hiding place ;
My never failing treas'ry fill'd
With boundless stores of grace.

4 By thee my pray'rs acceptance gain,

Although with sin defil'd ;

Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am own'd a child

5 Jesus! mj shepherd, husband, friend,

My prophet, priest, and king ;
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise 1 bring.

6 Weak is the effort of my heart.

And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see thee as thou art,
I'll praise thee as I ought.

7 Till then I would thy love proclaim

With ev'ry fleeting breath;
And may the music of thy name
Refresh my soul in death.

The refuge, river and rock of the church.

1 HE who on earth as man was known,

And bore our sins and pains ;
Now, seated on th' eternal throne,
The God of glory reigns.

2 His hands the wheels of nature guide

With an unerring skill ;
And counties worlds extended wide,
Obey his sov'reign will.

3 While harps unnumbered sound his praise,

In yonder world above ;
His saints on earth admire his ways.
And glory in his love.

4 His righteousness to faith reveaPd,

Wrought out for guilty worms j
Affords a hiding-place and shield.
From enemies and storms.

5 This land, thro' which his pilgrims go,

Is desolate and dry;
But streams of grace from him o'erflow
Their thirst to satisfy.

6 When troubles like a burning sun

Beat heavy on their head ;

To his almighty Rock, they run,

And find a pleasing shade.

7 How glorious he! how happy they
In such a glorious friend !
Whose love secures them all the way.
And crowns them at the end.

MAY the grace of Christ our Saviour
And the Father's boundless love,
With the holy spirit's favor,
Rest upon us from above !
Thus may we abide in union
With each other, and the Lord ;
And possess, in sweet communion,
Joys which earth cannot afford.

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Full text of "The heart of man : either a temple of God, or a habitation of Satan : represented in ten emblematical figures, calculated to awaken and promote a Christian disposition"

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